The color of irony

Reg introduces humour flagging

Common Topics

Judging by the letters we get, it seems that some Reg readers have trouble distinguishing the serious from the tongue-in-cheek.

This is not to say that they're thick - just that humour does not always successfully cross international boundaries. Let's face it, we smarmy and sarky Brits will throw in a bit of ironic drollery at the drop of a hat. And if you don't get it, well, that's when unfortunate misunderstandings can occur.

To rectify this problem, the Vulture Central Humour Comprehensibility Committee has devised a colour coding system to flag various levels of wit. In future:

Droll insinuation will be sage green

Mild sarcasm will be burgundy

Smarminess will be ultramarine

Irony will be lavender

Flippancy will be sunflower orange

Biting sarcasm will be pillar box red

Humour liable to cause offence will be in an insipid yellow which you can only read when you highlight it

Additionally, out-and-out jokes will be preceded by the following graphic warning: